The free agency period is near so the rumors are flying. The latest has Klay Thompson in the mix as the Warriors pursue Minnesota star Kevin Love.

As I first reported, the Warriors don’t want to give up Thompson. They prefer to fold Love into what is already formidable starting lineup featuring the Splash Brothers.

But one reality that is emerging through all this: it’s probably going to take Thompson to get Love.

The Warriors have offered the David Lee and Harrison Barnes package. According to multiple sources, inside the Warriors and out, Minnesota is insisting on Thompson being included. And since the Timberwolves have other offers, they can afford to be picky.

Warriors management still does not want to include Thompson in the deal. But they are not ready to exit the Kevin Love sweepstakes by refusing to include Thompson.

Per one source, the inclusion of Thompson was a counter offer from Minnesota — and the Warriors haven’t responded yet.

Either way, this may come down to choosing Thompson or Love. (I’m told Minnesota, for the first time in a long time, knows what it wants.) Even if they would choose Thompson, it wouldn’t make sense to pull the plug at this point. Especially if they can get a first-rounder (Minnesota has No. 13 pick) of it or if they can get their hands on another starting shooting guard they like.

Far as I have heard, Minnesota hasn’t offered their first-round pick yet. Could be a counter from Warriors.

Or, maybe the T-Wolves other options fall apart leaving them Love and Barnes with a future pick as the best option on the board. Who knows?

As of right now, it looks like the Warriors won’t be getting Love without Thompson. That means the Warriors will have to make a tough decision. Expect them to bide their time until they absolutely have to decide.

As it stands now, no Thompson means moving Andre Iguodala to shooting guard (where you’d need him to score) and Barnes into the starting rotation (taking away from the bench). That is not ideal for the Warriors. They’d have to get a shooting guard. But they can’t just get anyone. They need one who can complement Stephen Curry.

Which brings us to another issue in trading Thompson: how will that help Curry relations, which were clearly tainted by the firing of Mark Jackson?

No no no. You know what you have with the splash brothers. Let Kerr do his thing. Love is not lbj, there is no guarantee of a championship with him. Lacob better start worrying about pissing off curry. Nowadays you get a star and he decides he wants to go, your screwed.

म अण्डा मानिस हुँ

I’d rather part with Iggy, Lee, and a 1st rounder or Lee, Barnes, Green, and a 1st rounder.

Kasey

If you part with Iggy then you’re making a huge mistake. smh

म अण्डा मानिस हुँ

Oh, ok never mind then. smh

Hopper15

If we choose Thompson over Love. smh

510 Sports

Barnes is way underrated right now due to last year playing on the sorry 2nd unit in an isolation-based offense. Barnes on the court with good shooters, in a motion passing offense, would bump up his FG% to the high-40s. Barnes could easily score 15+ per game very efficiently in this type of role.

heisenburg

I like Klay, but he doesn’t pass and he doesn’t get you to the FT line. Elite SG’s should be getting to the line at least 6/7 times a night. K Mart would give you 80% of Thompson on offense. As long as they keep Draymond this is a great deal.

heisenburg

Warriors fans saying no to this trade remind me of people saying the Clippers giving up Eric Gordon for CP3 was too much.

heisenburg

For what it’s worth, Eric Gordon’s PER the year before he was traded for CP3 was 18.5. Klay Thompson’s this year: 14.3.

Demetrius Musicman

Marcus, would you do the deal? myself no way do I include Klay, only if they get LBJ…..
F*ck Filp Saunders! – go get Faried & Chandler or Gibson & Butler you’ ll still be watchin the playoffs from home dumb ass….or wait you can get Kelly Olynik & 50 draft picks from Danny Ange….the timberwolves should move to seattle and let the hansen group buy the team and run it the right way….what do you think will happen to OKC and Memphis when they are no longer relevent! you be able to hear the cows moo from inside the arena’s at tip off!!! if the players are going to dictate where they play just desolve 90% of the teams and have a 25 game season……..on the Blatt situation – have fun cavalier fans, his people told him to take the warriors assistant job first before a HC job….why? cause he’s known as a real hard ass, and these powder puff NBA babies nowadays don’t do well under those clouds……how about we try and move David Lee and see if we could get Pau Gasol, then aaron afflalo and shaun livingston – send blake, speights, crawford, nedovic, and the Koos anywhere for nuthin just to clear cap space…….don’t bust up the team for Kevin Love! Wait! see what happens on wed or thurs morning before the draft……I like Pau Gasol too, not a bad plan B….I know he’s older but would he take less money though?